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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
There Is Another Choice, April 7, 2000
This review is from: Tchaikovsky: Pique Dame [The Queen of Spades] (Audio CD)
See previous review! I wanted to extend my review to include a comparison with another GREAT Russian recording of Pique Dame- the 1974 Bolshoi recording with Mark Ermler at the helm. This was my first Pique Dame, purchased in 1999...before I knew about this one! Anyways- these are both fantastic recordings and quite different. When I first got this one (Kirov) it took me a while to get used to it. Amazon says he "attacks" the score. I don't think so- not in comparision to Ermler. The slower more elegant Kirov speeds and vocals took more time to get used to. Kirov singing- definitely superior, but surprisingly I prefer the Bolshoi's Pauline, Galina Borisova to Olga Borodina... Borisova ATTACKS her part, which seems to make sense. Borodina sings very slowly and more gracefully and certainly has better tone- but sometimes that isn't enough. I also like Vladimir Valaitis as Count Tomsky better than Putilin. Valaitis and Borisova are teamed up for the great ACT II Duet as in Ermler's version Pauline (Borisova) sings the part of Milovzor in "Kak ty mila" in ACT II, whereas Kirov has Gulegina (Liza)singing that part. Interesting change. The Ermler set is more driven, louder, and seems more "Tchaikovsky" than this set- however this set is so beautiful---it really has the beauty where the Ermler set sometimes lacks, and the Ermler set has the excitement the Gergiev set at times lacks- however sometimes Gergiev kicks it in- then LOOK OUT! It's a tough call... I would say the Kirov is slightly better, but there is another option out there, if you can find it- Ermler is hard to find now because of Gergiev's popularity!
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Grigorian is Wonderful, August 21, 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: Tchaikovsky: Pique Dame [The Queen of Spades] (Audio CD)
This is a powerful performance and the singing is strong throughout. Although I have not heard other recordings (by all accounts there are only one or two others), I must say I am impressed with Grigorian in the lead role, and the lyricism of his instrument, far from being a drawback as suggested by another reviewer who compares him to Atlantov, is a strength. Grigorian sings with a wonderful legato, his musical phrasing is tasteful and intelligent while at the same time hinting at an undercurrent of melancholy and inner turmoil. Grigorian also has a good top, which is all the more effective because of the restraint he employs in the lyrical passages. Grigorian's subtle reading of Herman avoids the pitfalls of simply painting him with two colors: obsessive gambler and irrational lover. This is important, since the two poles of Herman's obsession essentially converge, and the singer must be able to convey that. Unlike other fashionable tenors in Europe and America, Grigorian does not have recording contracts and has not made cd's of either third rate music or first rate music sung with third rate interpretations. Instead, he has done what real opera singers do: sung in live performances, perfecting his vocal technique and his skills of dramatic characterization. Listening to this performance, it is evident that Grigorian has thought about this character, has performed this role often, and has arrived at a psychologically complex and, ultimately, aesthetically edifying interpretation.
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18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A magnificant recording of a magnificant opera!, March 30, 2000
This review is from: Tchaikovsky: Pique Dame [The Queen of Spades] (Audio CD)
We all are familiar with Tchaikovsky's ballets, his wonderful symphonies, and his time worn 1812 Overture, which he himself called "bombastic." However, few of us are fimilar with the composers operas, particularily Pique Dame (The Queen of Spades) and Eugene Onegin. Eugene Onegin snagged itself a permanent place in the repitoire a long time ago- but it was slow coming for Pique Dame. For me, the two greatest things in opera are: 1) Mozart, and 2) Russian opera. Pique Dame offers the best of both world's here. Tchaikovsky's favorite operas where Mozart's "Don Giovanni" and Bizet's "Carmen." The man had great taste. The influence of Bizet and Mozart shines through in Pique Dame, yet the opera still maintains the Russian tradition of big chorus' and big/rich/lavish score, yet this is certainly a "classical opera." The score is incredible and this cast is the best- unbeatable combination. Act II (my favorite act) is simply phenomenal. Borodina is entirely unforgettable as Pauline..and this cast as a whole is stupendous. There is nothing like real Russian's singing a real Russian masterpiece. Pique Dame shines so much it is much preferred (by me) to that of Eugene Onegin- which is fantastic in its own right. Both Pique Dame, Eugene Onegin, and even the overlooked Mazeppa should be in every opera lovers collection. Wonderful! Simply Wonderful!
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